Automatic gearless power transmission.



W. D. M. HOWARD. AUIOMATIC GEABLESS POWER TRANSMISSION.

'nrrucmou mm APR. 4. 1911.

1,269,935. Patenwd June 18, 1918.

WITNESSES: INVEZQTOR UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM D. I. HOWARD, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOB ONE-HALF TO HARRY LEAP, 0F CAMP MEEKER, CALIFORNIA.

AUTOMATIC GEARLESS POWER TRANSMISSION.

Application flied April 4. 1917.

State of California. have invented new and.

useful improvements in Automatic Gearless lowcr 'lransmissions. of which the followingr is a specification.

This invention relates to a mechanical ap paratus for transmitting power at variable speeds and turning torque. the speed and power derived varying automatically with the change of the load. it provides for a sclf-compensating mechanism operating at different speeds, depending on the difference of turning torque between the drive and the driven shafts as the load varies, and enables the speed of the driving shaft and power output to remain constant in the ap plication of power.

The invention consists in the combination with a. driving and driven shaft, hav ing a common axis. of eccentrics fixcdto the driving shaft and eccentric straps connecting said eccentrics with transverse pins which pins have free radial motion in guidcways of the transmission case, and acting, in conjunction with springs as the load varies, to vary the speed.

It also comprises details of construction which will be more fully explained by rcference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a section through the line 1-1 of Fig. 3, looking to the left.

Fig. 2 is a section on line 2-2 of Fig. 3,

looking toward the right.

Fig. 3 is a section through line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

In engines or motors applied where variable speeds and power are required, as is well illustrated in the operation of automobiles. it has been found necessary, where internal combustion engines furnish the power, to interpose between the engine and the load various mechanical means for reducing the speed of rotation and increasing the power or turning torque, such as gear shifts, in various combinations. 'lhese devices must be operated by im external agency, introducing the personal equation, and by their inherent mechanical design and functions they are measurably inefficient.

My invention auton'iatically operates itself,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J une 18, 1918.

Serial No. 159,616.

tending to bring about a constant balance between the engine power and the load torque, by reducing the speed and increasing the pull of the driven shaft in the same ratio as the load increases. while the prime mover has a constant speed and power.

As shown in the accompanying drawings, X is the engine crank shaft, aving fixed to and turnable with it a flange A, and A is a fly-wheel which is bolted to the flange and rotates with it. This fly-wheel is here shown as being cup-shaped in form and inclosing within it the remaining mechanism of the apparatus. Y is the shaft to be driven, and through which motion and power are ap plied. This shaft is axially in line with the shaft X and the meeting ends of these two shafts may be steadied by means of a pin at extending axially from one into the other.

B is a cylindrical transmission case which is free to revolve around the axis of the crank shaft; X and the driven shalt Y and containing the, mechanism to be hereinafter described. This case is turnable freely about the shafts X and Y and has radial slots, as at G.

is the cover or outer end of the case B and through this end also are made radial slots G. M and I\' are twin eccentrics, the major axes of which are set at 90 apart and they are keyed to the power shaft X so as to be rotated with it. M and N are duplicate eccentrics keyed to the driven shaft Y. The eccentric straps F and O are disposed in pairs upon these eccentrics, and the straps extend toward the periphery of the transmission case and are there connected with shafts D which extend through them, and the ends turn in bearing blocks E, which are free to slide in the radial slots 0r channels G-G'.

The shafts D connect the eccentric straps F and O alternately in airs and the straps are free to turn upon t ese shafts. H are shafts located radially in the radial slots G-G' and having right and left-handed threads at their inner and outer ends and with compression blocks I movable upon them. Between these compression blocks and the bearing blocks E of the shafts D- are fitted compression springs S and S, the tension of which may be altered by turning the screws to advance the blocks I and vary the spring pressure upon the bearing blocks E.

The device operates as follows: Suppose the crank shaft X, with its flange and flywheel, to be revolving in a clockwise direction at a given speed, the eccentrics M and M bein keyed thereto, will. also revolve and ten to rotate within their respective eccentric straps. The case B in revolving, and the movement of the eccentric straps, applied to the pin shafts D and the bearing blocks E, would cause the latter to slide radially out and in, in the channels in which they fit, with a reciprocating motion. The inertia of the driven shaft, on account of its load, or for other reason resistin the tendency to turn, produces a pull or oree on its eccentric straps in the opposite direction to that exerted y the straps M and M first named. Motion is thus transmitted from. the eccentrics through the shafts I) and the blocks E to revolve the case B. So long its the turning torque of the driven shaft is not greater than that of the power or crank shaft X, the whole device revolves as a unit with the fly-Wheel A and at u otmstant speed.

If the load on the driven shaft should exceed the power torque of the crank shaft X, the force on the alternate eccentric straps will bQCOII'lQ unbalanced and the shaft I) will be caused to reciprocate in the radial bearing slots H, and the speed of revolution of the case B will be reduced proportionally until the opposing forces attain an equilibrium, it being obvious that there will be no lost motion or slippage.

When the device becomes out of equilibrium, because of an increase of load on the driven shaft Y, above the power of the crank shaft X, it automatically changes the speed of rotation and causes the shaft D and its bearings E to slide radially, thus giving a greater turning torque to the shaft Y and lowering its speed of rotation.

In order to increase the starting torque of the device, tension sprin s S are placed between the bronze bearing locks E and the compression blocks I. By turning the threaded shaft H the compression on these springs may be increased or diminished at will. The increasing compression produces an additional compression on the block which tends to revolve the case B at a greater speed of rotation for a given load, before the blocks begin to slide in the channels G, thereby reducing the speed of rotation of the case B and the driven shaft Y.

By this construction the casing is posi tively driven by the drive member, the driven member is positively driven by the casing when the inertia of the load on the driven member does not exceed the power of the drive member. Under this condition the entire mechanism operates as a unit at constant speed. Should the inertia of the load on the driven member exceed the power power.

of the drive member the momentum of the revolving casing which drives the driven member will. be reduced and a portion of the speed of rotation of the case will automatically be transformed into radial motion of the shafts 1). Thus the power torque will always equal the load torque plus the speed and a constant positive transmission of power between the driven and drive members at variable relative speeds with increased turning torque on the driven member in the same ratio as its speed decreases will be the compensating resultant of the forces actuating the mechanism.

This operation is hrmight about because of the momentum stored in the revolving member plus the artificial resistance of the springs which tend to prevent the transverse pins from radial motion.

It is obvious that if an amount of force equal to our horsepower be delivered to the shaft X to rotate the same, the shaft Y lltltlll' normal load will rotate. at the same speed as the shaft X and deliver one horse- The radial pins not being able to compress the tension springs at their ends have no rudiul motion. i ndcr this c0n- :iitiun tho whole mechanism revolves as a unit and may he said to be on direct drive.

if however, a load g1 eater than normal, for which the tension of the springs is set, be imposed upon the driven shaft Y a new resolution of forces in the device brought about by the reciprocation of the aforesaid pins in a radial direction, permittin the mechanism to revolve at normal spec and allowing the driven shaft Y to be carried around at a slower speed than the speed of rotation of the drive shaft X. It must be obvious that, allowing for friction in the device, if one horse-power is applied to the shaft X and the load on the driven shaft be increased to double the normal load and the spcediif rotation of the driven shaft Y dccrcaecs to Ull-iltllf its normal speed, it will have double the turning torque of the drive shaft X minus the internal friction of the device itself.

It is not contended that at any time under any conditions of operation are we able to derive an equal power from the driven shaft Y as that which is applied to the drive shaft X, but I am enabled to utilize the power applied to the drive shaft X by taking it from the drivenyshaft Y, the driven shaft Y re volving at lower speed than the drive shu X and increasing the turning torque at the same ratio as its dccr 'ase in speed.

Ilavlngtlms described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is l. A power transmission device including a driving and a driven shaft axially in line,

ends meet and are revoluble, eccentrics fixed m the driving shaft, similar pairs of eccentrics secured to the driven shaft, short pin Shafts extending across the case into the slots, compression springs within the slots ressing u on the said pins, and straps connet-ting t e eccentrics with the radially movable Pins.

2. It power tranmnission device consisting if a transmission case having radiall mated ends, a driving and adriven sha meeting axially within the case and freely and independently turnable therethrough, short transverse pins extending into the radial slots with boxes slidable in the slots, and tompression sprinfis upon either side, eccentrics fixed at'rig t angles upon the driving shaft, and other eccentrics upon the driven shaft, and straps surrounding the emreutrics and having their ends connected with the radially movable pins.

3. A means for transmitting power from a prime mover having constant speed, ower and turning torque, to a variable loa in a flexihle manner, said means including a rime mover shaft and a load shaft journaled in an axial line, a air of eccentrics fixedto the contiguous ends of each of said shafts, a case ha ing radially slotted ends, pin shafts with homes guided in the radial slots, eccentric straps connecting the eccentrics with said pin shafts, and compression sprinfs acting uporl' thefin shaft boxes.

4. n a mechanism 0 the'charaeter described for the positive transmission of power comprising a drive member, a driven member and connecting mechanical means for Fositiveiy transmitting power and tive y changing the relative s and turmng torques; the drive mem r ha attached thereto and o crating therewit twin eccentric blocks wit their major axes set at an angle of 90 or 180, the driven shaft carrying members having eccentricity with their major axes as aforesaid, said eocentrics bein alternately connected to slidable shafts y straps,- said hlid'able shafts moving in radial slots or bearings set at an angle ch90 W180" respectively, said slots being a co-ordinate part of a casi which is free to revolve arou'nd said drive and driven shafts.

In testimon whereof I have hereunto set my hand in t e presence of two subscribing witnesses.

D. M. HOWARD.

Witnesses:

Jomi H. Hume, W. W. Hum. 

